Apparatus for effecting liquid penetration of fabrics



June 17, 1952 R. D. L. FREDERICK APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING LIQUID PENETRATION OF FABRICS Filed Dec. 24, 1949 Inventor: ROBERT DESIDER LOUIS FREDERICK Patented June 17, 1952 APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING LIQUID PENETRATION OF FABRICS Robert Desider Louis Frederick, Essendon, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Application December 24, 1949, Serial No. 134,946

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-18) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for effecting liquid penetration of fabrics and it refers particularly to apparatus of the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 86,514, filed April 9, 1949, and now abandoned.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide an improved construction of apparatus for effecting the liquid penetration of fabrics-such as in the dyeing, sizing, or proofing of fabrics. A further object is to provide, in fabric dyeing apparatus, an improved construction of filter which will require relatively little attention for the cleansing of it. A still further object is to devise improved means for automatically adjusting the effective width of the suction tubes to compensate for variations in the width ofthe material being treated.

With these and other objects in view I have devised an improved construction of apparatus for effecting the liquid penetration of fabrics, of -the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 86,514, filed April 9, 1949, including at least one conduit adapted for mounting in a vat wherein the dye or other liquid is contained, the conduit having formed in it an opening or a series of openings extending longitudinally of its length whereby liquid may be drawn into the conduit, means for drawing the fabric through the liquid in the vat and directly past the opening, or openings in the conduit, and means for drawing liquid suctionally through the fabric and intothe conduit. The conduit has associated with it means for automatically varying the effective width of the conduit by altering the length of the opening or openings according to the width of the fabric being treated and there is a filter extending longitudinally of the conduit. The

.conduit is so constructed that its end covering may be readily removed to permit withdrawal of the filter for purposes of cleaning and it is preferred that the opening in the conduit be constructed by forming a longitudinal slot in its wall and then inserting a pair of parallel spaced edge members so as to fit about the edge portions of the slot.

. In order that the invention will be readily understood and conveniently put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings wherein there is depicted one construction ofapparatus made according to my invention. In these drawmgs: I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a transverse section of a dyeing jigger incorporating apparatus according to this invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective the apparatus for suctionally drawing liquid through the fabric.

Fig. 3 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of 'a conduit, on the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of part of the conduit taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 3 and 4 are drawn to larger scale than Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 is drawn to smaller scale than Fig. 2.

The jigger is of generally conventional construction, having a sheet metal vat I0 mounted on a rigid angle-iron framework II. Associated with the vat are six parallel longitudinally disposed rollers. Two similar rollers I2 are located above the vat, one to each side thereof, the shafts of the rollers being rotatably mounted at their ends in bearing blocks l3 secured to the end portions of the frame II. Secured to each bearing block and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom is an outrigger I4 having an open bearing I5 at its outer end. A further pair of rollers designated I6 are rotatably mounted within the upper portion of the vat, one towards each side thereof, and the third pair of rollers, designated I I, are rotatably mounted within the bottom portion of the vat I0. Means of usual type (not shown) are provided to rotate either one or the other of rollers I2,- in opposite directions, and braking means (not shown) are provided in usual manner whereby the rotation of either one of rollers I2 may be retarded.

An outlet pipe I8 leads from the bottom of the vat I0, and is adapted to be closed by a plug l9.

Located in the vat I0 is a pair of suction pipes 20 parallel to each other and to the rollers I2, I6 I, and I1 and disposed at a height intermediate of the two pairs of rollers I6 and I1.

The suction pipes 20 are so located that a roll of cloth, designated 2|, wound on one of the rollers I2, may be carried down outside one roller I6, inside one suction pipe 20, outside and under one roller II, under and outside the other roller I'I, up outside the second suction pipe 20, inside the second roller l6, and onto the second roller I2, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent that when the cloth is conducted as above described and as shown in Fig. 1, one surface of the cloth is carried past and in contact with one of the suction pipes 20,'and the other surface of the cloth is carried past and in contact with the other suction pipe 20. In-the portion of each suction pipe 20 which is contacted by a length of cloth conducted in this fashion there is formed a longitudinal opening 22, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These openings extend a substantial part of the length of the pipes and the parallel edge portions of each opening 22 consist of a bar 23 formed with a longitudinal groove adapted to engage with the edge of a slot formed in the pipe 29. The two bars 23 are secured together in parallel spaced relationshipby means of gusset plates 24 provided at desired intervals in the length of the bars 23. The bars 23 and plates 24 are welded together prior to assembly in the pipes 20 position by sliding each assembly longitudinally of the slot in the relative pipe sothat the opposite edge portions of the slotted pipe engage firmly in the longitudinal grooves in the bars 23.

Each pipe 28 is made so that the longitudinal slot in it extends from its one end and when the bar assembly 23-26 has been slid into position a short length of piping 25 of the same size as the. pipe 20 is welded on to the end of thepipe 20 in axial alignment therewith-see-Fig. 4-50 that the slot in the pipe 26; is then closed at both its ends and'the bar assembly cannot beremoved.

Each of the suction end a cap 26 which is secured totherelative end of the vat m and eachof said caps 26 hasformed through it an axial aperture wherein is located the. end of a, connecting pipe 21 positioned exteriorly of'the vat lilin such manner'that the two suction pipes 29 are interconnected.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the opposite end portionof each of the short pipe lengths 25-has aflange plate 28- secured to it, and, outwardly of that plate, there is fastened a secondflangeZS. is

meets to hold the composite pipe 2il-e-25;secur'ely within the other end of'the vat lfl and' that portion of the; pipe; 25 exteriorly oflthe flange plates 28 projects outwardly through the'end of the vat Hi; The flange a very short distance inwardly of theend of-the pipe length 25 so that the end'of the-pipe-acts asja,spigot whereon is located asealing washer The. flange plate 31l andthe, open end ofthe pipe 25 is closed by means of' a plate 3! of substantiallythe same external size as the flange 2'9. Thisplate 31 is firmly secured in position by-means of a clamping member 32 having jaws-which fit about the flange ZFand a clampingscrew 33 engaging in the. boss 34in such manner that upon rotation of the screw in the requisite direction itwill press the plated-l 'inwardlyson to the washer '36 so as to securely close the end of the lengthof-pi-pe Za'. The screw 33 has a handwheel'iS-by means of which it v can be conveniently rotated.

Theend plate 3| may be conveniently-removed by loosening the screw 33 and sliding the'clamping member 32 off the flange 29,- when the end plate 3i can be lifted clearof the pipe extension 25;

In order that the effective length of each-suction pipe Zil-may be varied automatically in accordance with the width of the'particular piece of 'cloth to be treated provide the slot-covering devices illustrated in Fig. 4. Eachof these devices consists of a longitudinally collapsible bellows connected at one en-d to a: suitable fixture (as theflange plate 28 at oneend of -thefipipe 20 or --the cap 26 at the-opposite end of the pipe) and at its oppositeend-to a slidable member which-fits'relatively neatly about the;pipe.120.but canslide relatively freely thereon.

As shown in Fig. ithe slidable member.consistsof a substantially circular: plate :35 .having an axial opening formed in it. The edge vofsthat and are fitted correctly in pipes has fitted to its one 29--is located ill opening is rounded so that there will be a relatively small surface contact between the plate and the external surface of the pipe 20 and the opening is shaped similarly to the external contour of the said pipe 20. Securely fastened to the outer side of the plate 36 is an angled member 3'! also formed with an axial opening of the same shape as the external contour of. the pipe 20 and the edge portion of the opening in the member 37 is rounded, for the same reason.

The one end of a collapsible bellows member 38 is clamped about the angled portion of the members and. the opposite end is clamped about a. second angled member 39 which is secured-tothe relative fixture (the flange plate 28 or the cap 26). The bellows member 38 is supported'interiorly-by means of a helical spring 40, and this spring also serves to press the slidable member 36-41 away from the relative fixture so that inward radial pressure upon the bellows member 38, as wellas outward longitudinal pressure upon the plate 36 caused by the suction within the pipe 28 will beadequately resisted.

According to variations in the width' of the cloth which is beingtreated so the slidable-members 3831- move onthe pipes 20 to compensate automatically for those variations.

A filter screen-is'mounted in each-of 'the plpes 20 and. eachv filterv is of the construction-illustratedparticularly-in Figs.- 3 and 4. Each filter screen consists. of a substantially rectangular frame to which a strip ofstainless-steel wire mesh 421s fastened. The frame H- is slidably mounted-in channel or U-shaped-guides M secured in substantially diametrically opposite positions within the pipe-20'. The'suction outlet from the pipe 20 is taken from the-side of--'the filter opposite the opening 22so thatthe filter extends between the suction outletand thelongitudinal opening 22." Consequentlythe liquid sucked through the fabric 2 iand thence through theopenings 'i2 will pass through the'meshscreen 42 sothat foreign matter drawn through or from the fabric will be deposited uporr that screen. Owing to the substantially large-effective surface area of :the screen it'will-requireto be cleaned relatively infrequently and owing to its-particular construction, as-well asthe'manner in which the end'plate-3I isolampedonto-the end of the pipeZO, the filter screen 41-, 42 may be removed from the pipe 20 relatively-easily;

The connecting pipes 21 are interconnected through flow control adjusting cocksM and-they are-connected to a-main suction pipe ls-through amainflowcontrol cook- 46'. ThepipeGSleacls to the inletof a pump 41 '-adapted to be-operated by a motor and a vacuumgauge ill-*is-connected to the pipe so as to -indicatethepressure in the suction line. Areturnpipe- 50"leads from the exhaust of thepump 41' tothe-bottom oftthe vat If! eta-substantially central position, and-a bye-pass pipe 5-! from the-pipe Ii -leads through the cook ".52 to the. return pipe 50"so that when the cock 52 is opened the pump fs-byepassed. The return pipe 50 has a fiow-eontrol cocxtsl incorporated in itfor the purposeof regulating the volume 0f-liquid=returned from the pump 41 and, therefore the volume of liquid drawn suctionally into thepipes ZOJ Assuming. for the purposeof iliustration that a roll of cloth 21' is requiredto-be dyed-*to' a desired colour, the shaft on which the cloth'is iti'aliy rolled it rnounted fin-the bearings- 15 of'alongitudinally oppositepa-ir of outriggere-H. an end of the clotl'ibeing' passed-around the near roller I2 which is then rotated by means provided to wind the cloth onto the said roller l2. An end of the cloth is then conducted through the vat ID as shown in Fig. 1 to the second roller l2, and the vat is filled above the levelof the suction pipes 20 with the dye liquid. ,The plates 36 of the collapsible bellows devices are moved slidably to such adjusted positions that they touch the side edges of the cloth, so that that portion of the openings 22 not covered by the bellows devices will be covered by the cloth passing over the said openings. The motor 48 is set in operation to operate the pump 41, cock 52 being closed, and the cooks 44 and 46 being open, and the means provided are caused to rotate the second-mentioned roller 12 so as to draw the cloth through the vat NJ, the firstmentioned roller l2 being braked so as to impart tension to the cloth. As, then, the cloth is drawn through the liquid in the vat I0, quantities of the dye liquid are drawn continuously through the cloth in one direction, and by way of the opening 22 into one suction pipe 20; and dye liquid is also drawn through the cloth in opposite direction and through the opening 22 into the other suction pipe 20, the liquid withdrawn in this manner being ejected back into the bottom of the vat l through the return pipe 50. Small particles of cloth drawn into the suction pipes 20 and any particles of sediment are collected by the filter screens 4|, 42. It will be found that the liquid penetration of the cloth is very greatly accelerated, and the dyeing process is very thoroughly effected. It will also be found that there will be a considerable saving in the quantity of dye liquid used in any particular operation.

If the cloth be of a delicate nature, and the suctional effect is deemed to be likely to result in damage thereto, the suction may be reduced by opening the cocks 44 and 46 to any desired degree; and the degree of suction exerted may at all times be read on the vacuum gauge 49. However the construction of devices for compensating for variations in the width of the cloths to be treated-the collapsible bellows 36 4llwil1 be found to be particularly useful when used with relatively heavy material such as will have sufiicient lateral strength when drawn tightly over the pipes 20 to move the plates 36 outwardly against the pressure of the springs 40.

When the cloth 24 has been wound from the one roller I2 on to the other, and has therefore undergone dyeing, rotation of the second roller 12 is stopped.

If desired, the cloth may be passed through the vat [0 two or more times to dye it to required depth of colour; but the accelerated liquid penetration brought about by the use of my invention will result in considerably fewer such operations being required than would be necessary with apparatus hitherto used. The continuous ejection of dye liquor into the'bottom of the vat Ill by way of return pipe 50 will be found to effectively agitate the dye and prevent settlement of suspended particles.

When the dyeing has been completed, the dye liquor may be drained out of the vat, by removing the plug I9 of the outlet pipe l8 and the filter screens, pump, pipes and vat may be flushed out. Once again, the cloth may be passed through the vat as described and illustrated, and the operation as before described may be carried out again with the difference that no liquid is introduced into the vat. Consequently, air will be-drawn through the cloth, first in one direction and then in the other, carrying to the suction tubes 20 excess moisture from the cloth. After this operation has been concluded, the cloth may be wound from a roller l2 onto a shaft journaled in a pair of Outriggers l4 and carried away for final drying and any other operations. Alternatively, the cloth maybe wound directly on to a shaft journaled in a pair of Outriggers [4 at the conclusion of the dyeing operation and then placed in another, similar, apparatus for the drying operation sothat the one vat I!) will be used continuously for dyeing operations and another vat will be used continuously for the drying operations. But it will be appreciated that the operations of dyeing and removal of a very considerable proportion of excess moisture may be carried out very rapidly, saving much time and labour, without removing the cloth from the jigger.

If desired a scouring operation may also be effected, in the same manner as heretofore described, before the dyeing operations, the scour liquid being removed and the apparatus cleaned prior to the filling of the vat Ill with the dye liquid.

What I do claim is:

1. In apparatus for effecting the liquid penetration of fabric the combination with a conduit formed with a longitudinally arranged opening through which liquid is adapted to be drawn suctionally through a length of fabric into the conduit, of a fixture secured to the exterior surface adjacent one end of the conduit, a slidable member consisting of a face plate and an angled member secured thereto, each of the face plate and the angled member having an opening of such size and shape that the slidable member is adapted to move freely upon the surface of the conduit without permitting a ready flow of liquid past the inner peripheries thereof, a collapsible bellows member fastened at its opposite ends to the fixture and to the slidable member, and a helical compression spring within the collapsible bellows member having its opposite ends pressing upon the fixture and the slidable member, the spring being adapted to balance'the suctional pressure within the bellows member and being adapted to permit the slidable member to move so as to adjust the effective length of the opening in the conduit according to the width of the fabric being treated.

2. In apparatus for effecting liquid penetration of fabrics according to claim 1 wherein the conduit has formed in its wall a longitudinal slot of which the opposite edges are parallel, the slot having fitted in it a pair of bars each formed with a longitudinal recess in its outer portion and the bars being connected together in parallel spaced relationship with the edges of the slot fitting into the recesses formed in the outer portions of the bars.

3. In an apparatus as defined in and by claim 1, wherein there is a filter means mounted within the conduit coextensive with the opening and adapted to separate the solid material from liquid as it is drawn suctionally into the conduit.

4. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 3 in which the filter means consists of a screen within a framework and a pair of oppositely disposed guides fastened to the inner wall of the conduit in which the framework is mounted.

5. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 1 wherein one end of the conduit is closed by a 

